BCG prep after McKinsey rejection after R2

Question

Hi!
I recently interviewed at McKinsey for the Junior Associate role and made it to Round 2, which took place on the same day. Unfortunately, by the second round, I was mentally exhausted, which affected my structuring and overall business thinking. In the feedback from the McKinsey partner, I was told that I need to improve at breaking down complex problems and identifying key business levers more effectively. I was recommended to reapply after a few months.

The rejection was difficult, especially after three months of focused preparation. My PEI was described as flawless and extremely strong. I had completed over 100 structuring drills — but structuring remained my main area of weakness.

Now, I have a BCG interview in about three 3 months, and I want to prepare as effectively as possible. My goal is to walk into the interview feeling confident and in control.

How should I approach my preparation this time?

How is BCG interview prep different from McKinsey’s?

Are there any specific focus areas I should prioritize for BCG?

Additionally, BCG mentioned that Round 1 will include a logical assessment before the two case interviews. What does that assessment typically involve — is it math-focused, or something else?

Thank you so much in advance!

Answer 1

Although preparation is similar, BCG’s interviews tend to be more interviewee-led, requiring candidates to take initiative and actively drive the case discussion. In contrast, McKinsey’s process is generally more structured and hypothesis-driven. The fit interview at BCG also adopts a more conversational approach, making rapport-building and demonstrating one’s personality important aspects. To succeed, candidates should emphasize flexibility in structuring cases, proactively lead problem-solving efforts, and remain agile in their thinking rather than adhering strictly to a predetermined framework. BCG values creativity, the consideration of multiple solution paths, and pragmatic approaches; therefore, displaying both structured and adaptable reasoning will be advantageous.

Regarding Fit interview preparation, that follows a different format than mckinsey. There are more potential questions you may receive and they way to prepare them is different (shorter, but more flexible regarding their content). Happy to discuss this as Fit / PEI preparation is one of my key strengths.